Team Lead, Nuclear Criticality Safety
Date: Oct 5, 2026
Location: Oak Ridge, TN, US, 37830
Company: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Requisition Id 17182
Overview:
We are seeking a Nuclear Criticality Safety Program Lead who will focus on being the chief programmatic and technical authority for Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Nuclear Criticality Safety Group. This position resides in the Nuclear Criticality Safety Group\ in the Nuclear Facility Safety Division, of the Environment Safety Health & Quality Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
- Reports to the NFSD Director.
- Serves and the chief programmatic and technical lead for the ORNL NCS Program.
- Provides recommendations to management regarding Nuclear Criticality Safety issues.
- Supports the NFSD Director in developing strategic and tactical policies that affect the production and maintenance of safety envelopes for all ORNL nuclear facilities.
- Provides technical mentoring to all NCS Program Staff.
- Delivers ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promotes equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.
Basic Qualifications:
- A BS/BA degree in Nuclear Engineering or other applicable discipline.
- A minimum of 12 years of practicing nuclear criticality safety on the floor of operating facilities.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading or directly supervising technical staff.
- Experience as a reactor operator is highly desirable.
- Experience in the development of ANSI/ANS standards is highly desirable.
- Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
- Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
- Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
Special Requirements:
- Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.
- Two references are required.
Please submit two letters of reference when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application.
Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:
- Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
- View Profile
- Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document
About ORNL:
As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.
ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.
Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.
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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.
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